Local football on Friday, September 8, was a no-win situation for Leesville, Rosepine and Pickering — as in no wins for anyone in home football openers.
LEESVILLE
The Wampus Cats welcomed the Jena Giants to Wampus Cat Stadium, and the visitors were on a mission to avenge last year’s loss to Leesville. They used a veer option offense and stingy defense to outlast Leesville 22-20.
Leesville scored first on a five-yard touchdown run from Xavier Ford at the end of the first quarter. A missed extra-point try left the Cats ahead 6-0. Jena answered with a 29-yard run from Zerrick Jones to tie the game at 6-6. Leesville responded on their next drive with a 54-yard scoring run from Ford. The Cats tacked on a two-point try for a 14-6 edge. A short scoring run from Jena’s Jones and two-point try tied the game 14-14 at halftime.
The Giants played keep away from Leesville in the second half as the Cats ran just eight plays in the third quarter. Jones added another short score for Jena and the two-point try was good for a 22-14 Jena lead. Leesville’s lone score in the second half came on an 84-yard run from Xavier Ford but the two-point conversion failed, and Jena went home with a 22-20 victory plus a little payback from last year’s loss.
Ford led Leesville on offense with 191 yards rushing and three TD’s. Isiah Farley caught six passes from quarterback Corbitt Robbins, who also tossed two interceptions.
The 1-1 Wampus Cats hit the road in week three for a Friday, September 15, encounter with Iowa (1-1). The Yellow Jackets ended the Cats’ playoff run last year. Kickoff is 7 p.m., and the game will air live on KJAE/93.5FM.
Pickering
Pickering lost their home opener last Friday to East Beauregard 48-6 at O’Banion Stadium. The Red Devils fell to 0-2 under new Head Coach John Daughtery. Xavier Mitchell led the Pickering offense with nine carries for 72 yards and one touchdown. Augustus James led the defense with six tackles, including one for a loss.
Pickering plays Thursday, September 14, at Grand Lake. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Rosepine
The Eagles took one on the chin last Friday as South Beauregard blanked them 28-0 at McKee-McCain Stadium. The Rosepine offense was anemic, getting 38 yards rushing from Lane Willis and just 40 total passing yards.
The Golden Knights scored three times in the second quarter as junior running back Clayton Folks had TD runs of 38, 8 and 6 yards. Senior fullback Mason Derouen had a two-yard score for the last TD of the night.
Rosepine will next host Kinder (1-1) on Thursday, September 14, at 7 p.m. The game will be aired live on KVVP/105.7 FM.
